A French Court of First Instance has issued a significant ruling against three major VPN providers: NordVPN, CyberGhost, and ProtonVPN. The court has mandated blocking measures to prevent access to illegal IPTV services broadcasting the 2025 season of WTA tournaments within France and its overseas territories.
The legal action was initiated by beIN Sports France, the exclusive rights holder for the tennis competition in France. This decision underscores that the issue of piracy extends beyond football, encompassing other major sporting events. The court order requires the VPN providers to implement all necessary measures to block access to these illegal streaming services until the conclusion of the WTA season. Furthermore, the providers are obligated to block any new pirate services reported to them by the French media regulator, ARCOM, throughout this period.
In an official statement, beIN Sports France emphasized that the court's decision acknowledges the role of VPN services in enabling French viewers to access illegal IPTV services and websites broadcasting WTA matches. The statement highlights the court's finding that VPN providers are instrumental in preventing these infringements, aligning with Article L 333-10 of the French Sports Code. The ruling sets a precedent, demonstrating the increasing pressure on VPN providers to actively combat online piracy.